8 Surprising Facts About Trees in Jewish Lore

1. When Hashem created trees, He commanded that the taste of the branches should be the same as that of the fruit. However, only the etrog tree obeyed, as "its wood and fruit share the same taste" (the leaves of the citrus tree are pungent and bitter, with a fragrance similar to the fruit). Therefore, the etrog became the prized fruit we rejoice with before Hashem during Sukkot, and in some cultures, it is called the "Fruit of Paradise." Some Midrashic teachings even suggest that the Tree of Knowledge was an etrog tree.

2. When a tree is cut down, its sound travels from one end of the world to the other. This is why the Torah prohibits cutting down fruit trees during a siege, as "man is the tree of the field." Everything created has purpose and meaning, and we must not destroy it.

3. When the prophet Isaiah rebuked King Manasseh of Judah, a wicked ruler and son of the righteous Hezekiah, Manasseh's men sought to kill him. Isaiah fled into the woods near Jerusalem. Seeing his pursuers closing in, he uttered a sacred Name and was absorbed into a tree. However, Manasseh ordered the tree sawn in half, and thus Isaiah met his end.

4. During the time of the sages, there was a carob tree that bore fruit only after seventy years. Choni HaMa'agal observed an elderly man planting a carob tree and asked, "Why do you bother? You will not live to taste its fruit." The old man replied, "Just as I enjoyed the fruit of trees planted by previous generations, my grandchildren will eat the fruit of this tree." Choni HaMa'agal was blessed to sleep and awaken seventy years later, witnessing the old man's words come to fruition.

5. A tale is told of a scholar's date palm that would not bear fruit. The scholar consulted his colleagues, who advised him: "It desires another specific palm. Take a cutting from that particular tree, plant it beside the first, and it will bear fruit." This worked because there are male and female trees, and pollination is necessary for fruit production. Usually, bees handle this process, but if they fail, a male tree must be planted nearby so the wind can carry its pollen, facilitating fruit development.

6. What skewers are used for roasting the Passover sacrifice? Only skewer rods made from pomegranate wood, as this wood is dry and dense, neither absorbing nor releasing moisture. Moisture within a skewer can disqualify the Passover offering, which must be roasted and not boiled. When roasting a whole lamb, moisture inside might cause cooking through boiling rather than pure fire, thus invalidating the offering.

7. The priests had many duties in the Temple, but what about those who were sick or sustained injuries, making it unsuitable for them to serve at the altar? They sat in the wood chamber, sorting the wood for the altar. Sacred workers collected wood (non-fruit trees) throughout the land for use on the altar, but wood with wormholes was unfit for Temple use. Therefore, each piece needed careful inspection to ensure its suitability.

8. At the sea's depths grow special trees known as "algumim," part of the cedar family. These trees cannot be uprooted or sawn by human hands. How do they reach people? A "bar amudai," an expert diver, is hired. He sails to the location, dives beneath the surface, ties the algunim to the ship, cutting them through the ship's movements, allowing collection.